Quote Originally Posted by audio amateur
I'd be willing to bet you a large sum of money that you can't discern between wav and lossless...
I don't disagree fundamentally with your bet, there can be implementation details that get in the way. As a new Squeezebox Touch user, I have experimented with different formats and options. The default setting is for the server software to send the native format (FLAC in my case) to the Touch where the onboard processor performs the transcoding and playback. Initially, I thought this was great because it reduced the bandwidth requirement for the Wi-Fi transmission. The office server lives a hundred feet away from the Touch located in the garage. Initially, I had experienced some dropouts requiring rebuffering but solved that by moving a large Metropolitan rolling metal rack out of the pathway and getting larger antennae for the Linksys access point.

It was suggested by a long term user over at AA that I try using the option where the transcoding occurs at the server instead to reduce the computational burden on the Touch. While its 500 mhz ARM processor is more powerful than found in previous SB units, it is significantly less powerful than the 2.8 ghz quad core I7 in the office. On some content, I can hear a reduction of non-musical click-like artifacts. Similarly, I can hear the difference when I replaced the wall wart switching PS with a high quality linear unit which is measurably quieter. The overall sound is less bright and smoother. I think the Touch is a great deal at $300, but it has its limitations. Fortunately, they can be addressed. The aftermarket power supply was another $200.

Lossless can be great, but the playback device must be well implemented.

rw